coachacola

The Ragin Cajuns are looking for a 6th home game.  They were working a deal with McNeese but that fell through.  I think that would be just as good or better than a game against La Tech.

[quote name="AggiesWeAreNot" post="1168619" timestamp="1328032772"] [quote author=ShlyKBMT link=topic=95053.msg1168371#msg1168371 date=1327971240] Best SLC Saturday afternoon crowd you'll see. Doty was supposed to be with the team on Thursday. He can't play this year. [/quote] Some of us remember the 70's and 80's.  Back when the students would actually go to games and we'd have sellouts of Mcdonald gym and the civic center.  Back when 4000 was a crappy crowd in the montagne.  Now 3000 is a good crowd.  Please, that sucks. [/quote] All of that didn't happen until Lamar was winning 20 games a year and going to the post season every year (and actually winning post-season games).  Big crowds won't start showing up again until Lamar is more than just a decent SLC team that has a hard time making the SLC tourney. 

[quote name="AggiesWeAreNot" post="1168622" timestamp="1328032858"] [quote author=LAZEEK link=topic=95130.msg1168242#msg1168242 date=1327955630] Lamar will play George Mason on February 18th in the ESPN Bracket Buster Challenge. [/quote] This is b.s.  Why didn't we get a home game and some of the crappy slc teams did? [/quote] I think they randomly picked home/away teams earlier this year.  Next year George Mason will  be coming to Beaumont.

More info about Washington: [quote]The 6-foot, 190-pound Washington received limited interest from colleges because of lagging test scores, high school coaches said. [b]Those scores are now high enough for him to qualify academically, they said. Even so, Washington plans to take the SAT again Saturday to further boost his score.[/b] [/quote] Read more: [Hidden Content] LB Michael Hargis is a great pickup.  He's 6-4, 220 and runs a 4.59 40. (Scout 2-star) Link: [Hidden Content] And it's been rumored elsewhere that 6-4, 220 lb QB Jacob Morgan of Cisco College has enrolled at Lamar.  His stats this year: 205 of 375, 2,840 yards, 25 touchdowns, 19 interceptions

[quote name="ShlyKBMT" post="1164750" timestamp="1327351518"] Even after a slow start Lamar's RPI is 105 thanks to non-conference. UTA is currently 150. [/quote] Exactly.  The toughest part of the conference schedule is over so LU should win all their remaining games.  Lamar is still in the running for a good bracketbuster game that could boost their RPI even better.  Although UTA is a little better right now, Lamar has the better RPI which translates into a better seeding in the NCAA tourney.  At this point I bet the best the SLC can do is a 15 seed.

[quote name="Tebowing" post="1163182" timestamp="1327072838"] Why would they want Doty when there's  D.C Stallsworth, Ryan Donahoe, Devin Bray, Shawn Prudhmme all available [/quote] I'm sure Knight would welcome any one of those guys as a walk-on, just like Doty.

[quote name="badndn" post="1162870" timestamp="1326995291"] What we need is the 6'4" to 6'6" kid that can score from anywhere on the court. We haven't had that since Daniels left. Those guys are go to guys that can get a shot off in crunch time. See Patrick Richard and Lamarcus Reed! We obviously don't have anyone to matchup with those types of players and we don't have a go to. Davis is a spot up shooter and thats it. Harper and Nelson have no outside game. [/quote] I agree.  I think that's why Pat Knight has signed kids like Mitchell, Wilson and Smith.  They are all in the size range and can shoot the ball.  We'll find out next year if any of them can step up and be that type of player at the D1 level.

[quote name="RealDB33" post="1162833" timestamp="1326992340"] [quote author=AggiesWeAreNot link=topic=94289.msg1162767#msg1162767 date=1326987058] [quote author=RealDB33 link=topic=94289.msg1161581#msg1161581 date=1326829264] Woodard has a good DC in Allen Johnson, he just needs actually let him do his job!!!  As far as Woodards days being numbered I would say he has another 2-3 years......maybe. [/quote] Did you see our defense last year? [/quote] I understand what you're saying but you have to understand that Woodard was in charge of defensive playcalling last year.  I agree that our defense couldn't stop anyone but some of that was due to lack of discipline also..... [/quote] Maybe he needs to name one guy the DC and get out of the way!!  If Woodard doesn't realize how the bad the defense was last year and keeps doing the same then it's going to be a long year.  Does anyone know if Woodard plans to name a DC and let them control the defense?

The offense should be ok with Johnson starting.  The defense is the big question mark.  6 wins should be possible with a decent defense, but if the defense doesn't improve then they'll be lucky to win 4 games.

I want Woodard to be successful.  I still say all he needs to do is hire a good OC and DC and he'll be just fine.

Also heard a rumor that Woodard's days are numbered.  Anyone else hearing that?

RealTimeRPI.com has Lamar's SOS at 30 and RPI at 39.  Both numbers will drop as they enter conference play, but if they can go 14-2 in conference and win the SLC tourney they they should get a 14 seed, or if they're lucky a 13 seed in the NCAA tourney. Link: [Hidden Content]

[quote name="badndn" post="1147770" timestamp="1324134845"] [quote author=AJ25 link=topic=93146.msg1147725#msg1147725 date=1324114359] I would be shocked if Dravantti came to LU. It wouldn't make much sense when there's other FBS programs he could play at. Not surprised he's leaving UT, however. [/quote] Correct me if im wrong, but DJ has no choice but to go FCS. He will be a senior and redshirted allready at UT. Would have to sit out a year if he transfered to another FBS and would not have any eligibility left after that. FCS he can play right away. [/quote] He already has a degree so he can transfer to a FBS school and play right away.

I read that schools under-report attendance because the NCAA takes a big cut of that money.  The FCS championship is in Frisco, TX this year at a pro soccer stadium that holds maybe 25K.  I think the SHSU-Montana State game is on one of the ESPN channels this weekend so we'll see if they can at least fill up the stadium.

I've read that the ncaa loses money each year on the FCS playoffs.  Probably only Montana and Appalachian State make money their games.  Between losing money and no publicity is it any wonder why schools want to move to FBS?

[quote name="hipster" post="1140041" timestamp="1323092104"] Yep but they are still playing, so what is worse getting crushed by them or playing in front of 8k.  Remember Ray Ray has got to earn those incentives. lol!! [/quote] But are they really playing if nobody sees them play?  ;D

[quote name="AJ25" post="1139236" timestamp="1322969079"] One norm about all those: All over 10 years ago. [/quote] Not the Northwestern State game.

[quote name="puddin tane" post="1139076" timestamp="1322958285"] hmmmm...i typed in "largest crowd montagne center"..got zz top and a preacher what are the largest crowds for m/w basketball...i know football is v Baylor I'm gonna guess mens v tcu? [/quote] The Lamar Basketball Media Guide has this info.  Top 10 crowds: 10,010 vs McNeese 1/10/87 (Joe Dumars was on their team) 9,467 vs McNeese 2/27/86 9,432 vs LSU 12/16/85 8,992 vs Arkansas State 1/24/87 8,610 vs Houston 3/15/85 8,454 vs Texas 12/27/95 8,338 vs Northwestern State 2/23/08 8,317 vs La Tech 1/26/85 8,254 vs Chattanooga  3/20/85 8,216 vs Villanova 11/26/85 Also, since the Montagne Center opened, only once have they averaged less than 2000 per year, back in 1989-1990.  3K to 4K per year is the norm. Link: [Hidden Content]

Provost Umphrey Stadium could be expanded to a similar size (without the winged endzone seating) if they just wrapped the lower section around the south endzone, extended the main sections past the back of the endzones, and replaced the press box with a large one like UNT's stadium.

[quote name="LAZEEK" post="1126684" timestamp="1321913388"] Not basing it on that one game you bunch of idiots!!! ;D ;D ;D That comment was all in good fun also!!!! [b]Of all the schools in the SLC, HBU likely has the best recruiting base other than UTA!!!!!  Now that they are adding football, they will be able to get good kids.  Just like UTSA has been able to do, even though they are moving to the WAC!!! [/b] Have any of you ever been on HBU campus????  It is very nice, it is small, but very nice.  There facilities will be as well.  I agree about there current gym.  I know of 20 area high schools that have nicer gyms!!!! [/quote] HBU's recruiting base is also one of Lamar's prime recruiting bases, along with every other school in the state.  How does that help Lamar and the SLC as a whole?  The Louisiana schools in the SLC can't find enough talent because there's so many FCS and FBS schools in that state. With UTA thinking about starting up football in a few years the same thing could happen in Texas.

Adding ORU gave the SLC 10 basketball schools and 8 football schools, instead of the 12/8 setup they had the last few years.  Why add HBU now?  That gives the SLC 11 schools.  Maybe they know someone else is on the way out? HBU probably got the nod over all those D2 schools because they are already D1 so they can join the conference right away.  Their athletic budget is already at $8.9 million which is middle of the pack for the SLC.  But their facilities suck and their basketball/baseball teams will really drag down the RPI of the league.

HBU doesn't even have lights at their baseball field.  I did read they are planning a new Events Center for basketball but that's not going to happen overnight.  They are also planning to start football, but how is this good for Lamar football if there's another FCS team in one of Lamar's top recruiting area?

Lamar was picked to finish last in the SLC but they didn't.  The offense was decent, it was the defense that prevented them from going 6-5.  Woodard needs to bring in a good DC and have a good recruiting class and they'll be fine next year.

Here's my prediction: Prewitt will lead Lamar to back-to-back wins against Nicholls and McNeese, then next year Jeremy Johnson will be named starting QB!  ;D

I think Woodard has to look no further than Sam Houston State to see how to build a coaching staff.  Fritz, their head coach, had no D1 head coaching experience before this job.  Both his OC and DC were former FCS head coaches, and were successful.  Look at the bio for Stoker, their DC: [quote]Stoker compiled a 43-38 record in seven seasons as head coach at Northwestern State, leading the Demons to the 2004 Southland Conference co-championship and to the NCAA Division I national playoffs in 2002 and 2004. His teams totaled 22 NCAA top 20 statistical rankings on offense, defense and special teams. During his tenure with the Demons, 49 Northwestern State school records were broken (23 offensive, 10 defensive and 13 special teams). The Demons also set five NCAA Football Championship Subdivision national records and 10 Southland Conference marks. He was recognized by American Football Coaches Monthly as one of the nation's Top 10 recruiters. Three of his Demon squads finished among the top 15 nationally in total defense and rushing defense including No. 2 national rankings in both categories in 2004.[/quote] Here's the bio for the OC: [quote]Bob DeBesse brings 25 years of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level to Sam Houston. He served as head coach at Southwest Texas State University from 1997 to 2002 and has been an assistant coach at Texas A&M, Purdue, Minnesota and TCU. The past two seasons he has been secondary coach at A&M Consolidated High School. DeBesse was wide receiver coach for Texas A&M squads that played in the 2006 Holiday Bowl and the 2007 Alamo Bowl. At Purdue, as wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, he coached two record-setting receivers who signed with NFL teams. The Boilermakers played in the 2003 Capital One Bowl and the 2004 Sun Bowl. From 1997 to 2002, DeBesse was head coach at Texas State (then Southwest Texas), his alma mater. His 2000 team was ranked No. 25 in NCAA FCS and the Bobcats' 7-4 record that season was the school's best in a decade. DeBesse was offensive coordinator at Minnesota from 1992 to 1996. The Golden Gophers led the Big Ten in passing offense in 1992 (all games), 1993 (all games and conference-only games), 1994 (conference games), 1995 (conference games) and 1996 (all games). In addition, DeBesse's multi-dimensional offense produced numerous rushing, passing and receiving school records. From 1983 to 1991, DeBesse was an assistant coach at Texas Christian. He was offensive coordinator the last two seasons, earning Southwest Conference Offensive Coordinator of the Year honors in 1990. [/quote] That's the kind of experience Woodard needs to bring to his staff!